Effects of the simultaneous application of potassium and calcium on the soil-to-Chinese cabbage transfer of radiocesium and radiostrontium.
Pot experiments were carried out in a greenhouse to investigate how effectively the transfer of radiocesium and radiostrontium from soil to Chinese cabbage could be reduced by applying K and Ca simultaneously to the soil. The sources of these elements were KCl and Ca(OH)(2) at agrochemical grades. Varying dosages of K and Ca were tested for an acid loamy soil treated with a mixed solution of (137)Cs and (85)Sr at two different times - 3 d before sowing and 32 d after sowing. For the pre-sowing deposition, the soil-to-plant transfer of (137)Cs decreased sharply with increasing dosages of K and Ca (K/Ca, g m(-2)) from 4.8/46 up to 22.4/215 but the (85)Sr transfer had the greatest reduction at a dosage of 12.8/123. At this dosage, an about 60% reduction occurred for each radionuclide. Plant growth was inhibited from the dosage of 22.4/215, above which all the plants died young. Both dosages of 4.8/46 and 12.8/123 tested following the growing-time deposition produced around 95% reductions for (137)Cs and 50% reductions for (85)Sr. In the second year after the 12.8/123 applications, the effects for (85)Sr were almost the same as in the first year, whereas those for (137)Cs were diminished slightly for the pre-sowing deposition and markedly for the growing-time deposition. Considerably (K) or slightly (Ca) higher doses than 12.8/123 would be allowable for the maximum TF reductions achievable without a growth inhibition.
Choi
Yong-Ho
YH
Nuclear Environment Safety Research Division, Korea Atomic Energy Research Institute, Yuseong, Daejeon 305-600, Republic of Korea. yhchoi1@kaeri.re.kr
Lim
Kwang-Muk
KM
Jun
In
I
Keum
Dong-Kwon
DK
Lee
Chang-Woo
CW
D000383:Agriculture; D001937:Brassica / Q000254:growth & development*; D002118:Calcium; D002132:Calcium Radioisotopes / Q000032:analysis*; D005507:Food Contamination, Radioactive / Q000032:analysis*; D007723:Korea; D011188:Potassium; D012990:Soil Pollutants, Radioactive / Q000032:analysis*; D013326:Strontium Radioisotopes / Q000032:analysis*
D002132:Calcium Radioisotopes; D012990:Soil Pollutants, Radioactive; D013326:Strontium Radioisotopes; D011188:Potassium; D002118:Calcium